The context you left out there said right before that "in my opinion". In any case though, before it was "backed" by a fraction of the loan. That doesn't mean it wasn't new money that did not yet exist. It just means if the bank folded there was something to go toward repaying those whom they owed. But in any case that fraction was reduced to zero in the US under trump. Something I learned in this thread. So really, now that backing doesn't exist any longer.